Self-adjusting tray for sample-cases, trunks, &amp; c.



Patented Dec. I8, |900.

F. n. uPHAM. SELF ADJUSTING TRAY FDR SAMPLE CASES, TRUNKS, 81.1:L v

` (Application led June 7, 1900.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT @EE-ICE.

FRANK D. UPHAM, or NEWTON, IOWA, AssIeNoR OE Two-THIRDs TO PERRY ENGLE AND GEORGIA A. UPHAM, OE SAME PLAGE.

SELF-ADJUSTING TRAY FOR SAM PLE-CASES, TRUNKS, st.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,363, dated December` 18, 1900.

Application iiled June 7, 1900. Serial No. 19.381. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, FRANK D. UPHAM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Newton, in the county of Jasper and State of Iowa, have invented a Self-Adjusting Tray for Sample-Cases, Trunks,&c., of which the following is a specification.

My object is to arrange and combine a plu'- rality of trays and operative mechanism with a case or trunk in such a manner that when the hinged cover of the case is opened and turned into an inverted position the trays will all be lifted out simultaneously and without tiltingtheminto contiguous positions, so` that the top of each tray will be open and its contents visible and accessible.

My invention is specially adapted for use by commercial travelers for carrying and displaying samples of merchandise and for physicians as a medicine-case, but may also be advantageously used as a trunk for the common purposes of a receptacle for clothing and such other articles as are usually stored and carried in a trunk; also, for boXes and toolchests.

My invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View showing the cover of the case or trunk divided into two parts andl hinged in such a manner that they will swing apart outwardly in opposite directions and each one of them into an open inverted position and the trays into horizontal positions, but in dierent horizontal and also in dierent vertical planes. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the operative mechanism for lifting and adjusting the trays by means of the movements of the hinged cover, as required in opening and closing the case or trunk.

VThe letter A designates the bottom portion of the receptacle, and B a liXed longitudinal partition extending from the bottom to the top and from end to end. It is obvious that the dimensions of this receptacle mayvary as desired and that it may be made of wood, sheet l metal, or any suitable material and the complete case or trunkcovered and finished in any style of art desired. The fixed partition divides the lower and main portion of the trunk longitudinally into two mating open-topped compartments, strengthens the trunk, and serves as a rest and support for adjustable trays that have a hinged connection with the ends of the said two compartments.

C and C2 are mating covers hinged to the tops of the outer parallel edges of the receptacle A. Each part of the cover is composed ofvtwo pieces fixed together in right-angled positions and to four-cornered end pieces, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that their free edges will meet when the cover is closed in such a manner that they can be securely fastened togethei1 by means of suitable locking devices. Handles d are fixed to the mating parts of the cover to facilitate lifting and carrying.

H and H2 are trays pivotally connected with each other by means of metal bars or arms J, that are curved at their lower ends. These bars are pivoted to the outside faces of the central portions of the ends of the lower trays and to the top outer portions of the ends of the receptacle A at the extremities of `their curved lower ends and at their top ends to the outside faces of the inner lower corners of the upper trays H, as shown in Fig. 2.

K and K2 are straight bars of links pivoted at their lower ends to the inside faces and central top portionsof the ends of the two compartments of the receptacle A and pivoted` at their upper ends to the outside faces and inner lower corner portions of the lower trays H2.

fm and m' are straight links pivoted at their lower ends to the outside faces and lower outer corner portions of the lower trays H2 and at their upper ends to the outside faces and lower central portions of the ends of the upper trays H.

n and n' are slotted bars slidingly connected with the inside faces ofthe ends of the hinged covers C and C2 by means of fixed pivots r and also pivotally connected at their ends with the central portions of the links fm, and 'm'.

It is obvious that when the hinged covers are turned outward and inverted the trays will be swung laterally and retained right side up and the compartments under the trays uncovered and accessible.

Having thus described the construction and operation of myinvention, its advantages will be apparent as a means of facilitating the displaying and handling of such articles as are usually packed and carried in cases or trunks.

What I therefore claim asv new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent therefor, is-

' l. In a case or trunk, a fixed central partition extending longitudinally to support trays, two trays pivotally connected with each other at their ends and with the ends of the case or trunk and the ends of a hinged cover,

` and a cover consisting of two parts xed together in right-angled positions to each other and four-cornered pieces fixed to their ends, to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

2. In a case orv trunk, an open-topped bottom portion, a fixed central partition in said bottom portion to support trays, a cover consisting of two parts in right-angled positions to each other and four-cornered ends fixed together hinged to the top of the bottom portion and twotrays pivot-ally connected with each other at their ends and with the ends of said bottom portion, to operate inthe man; ner set forth for the purposes stated.l

3. A case or trunk having an open-topped base or bottom portion, a central vertical partition fixed to the ends and bottom of said bottom portion to support trays, a cover consisting of two parts in right-angled position to each other and four-cornered end pieces hinged to each lof the top edges of the parallel sides of the bottom portion and trays pivotally connected at their ends and also pivotally connected with each end of each hinged cover and each end of each compartment of the said open-topped lower portion, to operate in the manner set forth, for" the purposes stated.

4. Acase or trunk comprising a lowerportion A having a fixed partition B, a hinged cover consisting of two parts C and C2, two trays H and H2 connected' with each part of the cover and with each other and with the part A by means of curved bars J, and J2, straight links K and K2,- straight bars m and m and slotted bars n and n', all arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

FRANK D. UPHAM.

Witnesses:

OLIVER P. MYERS, WM. R. COOPER. 

